DRUMMING NEWS NETWORK INTERVIEW
by David Levine
1. If I recall correctly, you grew up in Miami. How did you become interested in the drums and what encouraged you to turn pro?
I went to music school in Miami, but I actually spent the first 18 years of my life in New Jersey. There were many factors that pushed me towards the drums. In the late 1980’s, MTV was huge, and I would watch that channel almost every day after school. I’d do my homework in front of the television while discovering countless new bands and drummers. This experience prompted me to purchase a used Pearl Export drumset from a neighbor, and to start creating garage bands with my classmates. Later, from the ages of 16 to 18, I studied drums and percussion with Tommy Igoe. I think that the exposure of my drum classes with Tommy, combined with the New York music scene, really encouraged me to continue pursuing the drums at the University of Miami’s Frost School of Music.
2. You’ve always been open-minded about playing different types of music, different drum gear, combining acoustics and electronics, etc. How did you develop that flexibility and how has it affected your career?
Both my high school and university music environments taught me to enjoy all types of musical styles and percussion instruments. I loved playing rock, punk, metal, funk, pop, electronic, classical, jazz, latin, world music. I loved learning the drumset, orchestral percussion, ethnic and world percussion instruments, drum machines and samplers. There are many ways to create and perform rhythms. I tend to ask myself questions like, “What would be interesting? “What would be different?” “What is appropriate?” “What is unusual?” This thought process helps me approach music and drumming from multiple angles. I imagine that this all-encompassing outlook towards rhythm making has aided my career in respect to staying useful, current, and relevant.
3. How did you get the gig with Shakira and how have you kept it fresh over the years?
When I lived in Miami, I worked as a session drummer in several of the local recording studios. One day, I was called by an engineer named Sebastian Krys to record drums on a new album being made at Gloria Estefan’s studio Crescent Moon. This project was Shakira’s 1998 album “Dónde Están Los Ladrones”. Shakira, Luis Fernando Ochoa (producer), Sebastian, and I completed about 6 songs together over the course of a week or two, and we really hit it off. When that album was released, I was asked by her manager to be part of Shakira’s live band too. Regarding the concerts, I keep the music fresh by continuously searching for ways to improve my playing, and searching for ways to update the song arrangements.
4. Please tell us about your endorsements and the gear you’re playing.
I am very fortunate to have developed relationships with some of the best companies in the music industry. I endorse DW drums, Sabian cymbals, Remo drumheads, Vic Firth sticks, LP percussion, Roland electronics, Canopus snare wires, LowBoy beaters, JH in ear monitors, Big Fat Snare Drum percussion effects. I have done several gear run-down’s on YouTube. The most recent one can be seen here:
https://youtu.be/psj4n2nDbMg?si=ioZXANmnWeqeNTGa
5. What do you do when you’re not on tour? What’s next on your schedule?
When I am not on tour, I like to immerse myself in “home life”. I have lived in Los Angeles for the past 20 years, so I spend a lot of time with my family and musician friends here. On a perfect day, I will exercise, go to see live music, walk around in nature, read a book, drink a good coffee, train martial arts, eat a healthy meal. I like to spend plenty of time creating music in my home studio. We’ve recently started a L.A. Drum Club where my drummer friends and I can get together to share ideas… and stay inspired. For the remainder of 2025, I will be continuing the Shakira “Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran” concert tour. Our next stop is South America: round two. This world tour is expected to extend throughout 2026 and beyond.
6. Is there something else you want to talk about?
In the next month or so, I plan on releasing Volume 3 of the DrummerPlusDrummer duet series. The first two volumes (from 2022 and 2023) can been found on any streaming service. And, the corresponding videos for these drum duets can be watched on Instagram @drummerplusdrummer or on my YouTube channel.
www.brendanbuckley.com